Check Up

This morning Liz and Matt take Jesse on her first outing to the doctor.  Jesse is doing great and has not gained or lost any weight since coming home.  Both Liz and Matt felt good after taking with the doctor and having some of their questioned answered. 

Liz also saw her doctor and had her staples removed from the c section.  The removal went fine, but her blood pressure is high.  Please pray that it will go down as high blood pressure can cause seizures, which she has had in the past. 

Both Liz and Jesse are napping now.  Now for what you really want to see the pics.

Just arrived home from hospital on Sunday.

Sleeping peacfully:)

Even Aunt Suzanne's vacuming didn't wake me up.

nursey

Jesse Elizabeth Urban

Jesse Elizabeth Urban was born July 26, 2012 at 10:41 am.  She is 7 1/2 lbs and is 19 1/2 inches long. 



Jackson just had the best time holding his new cousin. 

Aunt Suzanne

Later today my sister will have her first child.  She is being induced as I type.  I am excited and nervous all at the same time.  It will be fun to play the aunt role, but hard not to have a little one of my own to hold and care for.  Please pray that all goes well with baby and mom today.  I will post photos in a couple of days:)

Colonscopy

I had my 1st ever colonscopy earlier today.  The prep was no fun at all.  The stuff you have to drink is the worst.  I didn't actually drink it all, shh don't tell.  The good news is my colon looks fine.  The bad news is that we don't know why I have had problems.  In four weeks I will go see my GI doctor and hopefully figure out what is causing the problem.  My guess is food.  I just hope it is not chocolate:)

This week I have been very aware of the simple things I have like clean water and food.  Earlier this week as I was taking my second shower for the day I realized that many people in the world do not have clean water and here I am taking a long second shower.  On Thursday I was on a clear liquid diet in prep for the colonscopy today.  I could have water, tea, broth, jello etc.  It was pretty hard when I was fixing things for the boys and could not have any solid food.  Off handedly as we were having lunch at the pool with friends I said surly I could go one day with out food there are staving people in the world.  We have so much here in American compared to other countries and we don't even think twice about it must days--at least I don't.  Even here in American there are thousands must likely more I don't know the numbers that have no ideal were there next meal will come from.  I feel like God has placed this on my heart this week to do something.  I just don't know what yet.  I will let y'all know when the Holy Spirit reveals it to me because I will need your prayers and help I'm sure.

Happy Belated 4th of July!

Give It A Try

One of the things I wanted to try this year was homemade powdered dishwasher detergent.  Well, I tried making it twice and did not like it.  The detergent cleaned the dishes fine, was cheap and better for the environment than store brought detergent, but it clomped together and was very difficult to break apart to use.  Maybe I will try a homemade liquid detergent next.

I also recently made homemade sunscreen.  It was easy to make, smelt great and covered well.  However, I got burned pretty good when we used it.  I have switched back to store brought spray sunsceen.  The boys like the spray so much better.  I still may try making it again with a different recipe or look to buy a healthier sunscreen.  Through my research online I have found that many of the ingredients in sunsceen are unhealthy and can cause cancer.  The number of skin cancer cases actually went up when sunscreen was developed. 

Over the past 8 months or so I have tried two homemade deodorants.   They both have worked well.  Now these are not an antiperspirant so you will sweat.

Recipe #1

5-6 Tbsp Coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch

In a glass bowl or measuring cup melt coconut oil in microwave.  Stir in baking soda and cornstarch.  Pour into an old cleaned out deodorant container.  Let set in fridge overnight to harden. 

**Note:  This is a winter time deodorant.  Coconut oil is solid only at temps below 76 degrees so once May comes around here in South Texas you may want to use something else to avoid the mess.

Recipe #2

Pour rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle.  Spray on arm pits.  The alcohol kills the bacteria that causes the smell. 

I will continue to share with y'all the new things I try.  If you have tried anything new please let me know how it worked.  I would love to give it a try.

Ulcerative Colitis

I was in the hospital recently.  I have been diagnosed with ulerative colitis.  This is inflammation(irriation and swelling) that occurs in the rectum and colon.  It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  No one knows what causes IBD, but the symptoms can be treated. 

Here is the whole story if you have a weak stomach you may what to stop reading NOW!

Last Thursday, May 17 I had a little diarrhea in the morning, but was fine by lunch.  I thought I must have a little touch of some bug

Friday, May 18 I subbed at the preschool and had a good day.  I had an uneasy feeling in my tummy and one lose stool, but was ok.  That evening I began to feel worse.

Saturday, May 19 1am.  I had lots of diarrhea all through the early morning hours.  Josh and the boys go to visit Grandma and Papa Stoneham leaving me at home with a "bug."  By lunch time I was in pain and passing blood with the diarrhea.  Josh leaves the boys with his parents and comes home and takes me to a free standing ER.  I had called my doctor and the on call doctor told us to do just that.  At the ER I am given pain meds, a rectal exam (not has bad as I thought it would be, but not fun),bloodwork and a CT scan.  The CT scan showed extensive inflammatory wall thickening/edema of the colon from the cecum through the descending colon.  So, I was sent home with four prescriptions and a GI doctor to follow up with in a few weeks.

Sunday, May 20 2am.  I am in so much pain that Josh takes me back to the freestanding ER.  They give me pain meds and then transfer me to the hospital.  My first amblaunce ride.  At the hospital I am given IV fluids, antiobotics and pain meds.  More bloodwork is done, my urian and stool are tested.  I am diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and released on Tuesday, May 22 in the afternoon. 

This is the worst physical pain I have had.  The pain is gone now, but not the diarrhea.  I am weak, tired and have been in bed since coming home.  I just read that the diarrhea can last up to 8 days--almost there:)  Pray that God will heal me quickly.  I feel like I am missing out on so much with my family.  Jeffrey's last day of preschool was yesterday and I didn't get to take him:(  And today was support to be his first day of summer and he was going to get to choose what we did all day.  A jammie day, movie, park, whatever he wanted.  But it's ok we have all summer and thanks to amazing friends Jeffrey and Jackson have been taken care of and are having tons of fun with there friends.

So, I find myself today asking God "what is the lesson I am supports to be learning from this sickness?  And help me see is NOW so we can move on." 

What I have learned/been reminded of:

1. I have an awesome family and wonderful friends who care for me and my family.

2.  Josh (my hubby) is the BEST!   He has taken care of everything while still working and he has been much nicer to me than I would be if the rolls were reversed.

3.  It is hard beening a wife and mom.  I struggle daily with different areas of wife/motherhood.  I must remember what it is like to miss out on daily family life and enjoy all the moments we have together.

All I really want to do is play with the boys, cook dinner, and sit on the porch swing with Josh!

Bedtime Talks

Last night as I was saying goodnight to Jeffrey:

Jeffrey: it looks like you are growing a baby in your tummy.
Me:  I know, but I'm not remember mommy has colitis and I have a lot of gas in my tummy and I have to burp it out.
Jeffrey laughs:)
Jeffrey: I wish we could grow a baby.
Me: Talk to God about that.
Jeffrey laughing: God can't put a baby in you tummy from way up there.
Me: Really b/c that's how it works.
Jeffrey: Mommy when you sleep He comes down and puts the baby in your tummy.